Optimization explainer

When an order is sent to IBM Sterling Fulfillment Optimizer with Watson, many rules, configurations, constraints, and cost optimization goals are applied to determine the most optimal way to fulfill it. Optimization explainer gives you insight into how Fulfillment Optimizer optimized your orders based on your business objectives.

The Optimization explainer interface demonstrates how factors such as cost, shipments, backlog, and inventory positions - paired with the weightings of your business objectives - influenced the fulfillment decision of Fulfillment Optimizer.

Optimization explainer helps answer the following questions:
  • Why was an order split into multiple shipments?
  • What is the shipping cost of the order?
  • Why was an item shipped from a node that is located further away from the destination when the same item was available in a store that is closer?
  • What was the inventory available for the item when the item was shipped?
  • What is the total cost associated with an order?
  • What was the original order date?
  • What was the estimated ship date?
  • Why was the shipment upgraded?
  • Why wasn't an item shipped?
Important: Optimization explainer displays the fulfillment decision of Fulfillment Optimizer for a particular order based on the data available at the time of optimization. The actual data at the time of fulfillment might differ from the predicted data.